Chapter 149
Audrey’s POV:
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Caspar left early in the morning.
After dropping Noah off at kindergarten, I went directly to the office.
I was reviewing some paperwork in my temporary office at Thornton Group headquarters when I overheard two young employees chatting by the water cooler outside my door.
“Did you hear Sophia’s back from Europe?” one whispered excitedly.
“The Sophia? Mr. Thornton’s right–hand woman?” the other replied.
“I heard there’s something special between her and Mr. Thornton?”
“Exactly! I’ve never seen Mr. Thornton that relaxed with anyone from the office.”
“I thought she was staying in London to handle the EU expansion.”
“Apparently she finished early on that EU project. I wonder if she rushed back because of him.”
I tried to focus on my work, but their conversation piqued my curiosity.
Throughout the day, I noticed the occasional whispers and glances toward the executive floor, but didn’t see this mysterious Sophia anywhere.
It wasn’t until I was leaving my office at day’s end that I finally saw her.
The elevator doors opened.
A woman walked down the hallway with confident strides, her Burberry suit impeccably tailored.
Coincidentally, Caspar just returned to the company.
Their eyes met, and Sophia broke into a wide smile.
“Caspar!” she exclaimed, opening her arms.
To my surprise, Caspar stepped forward and embraced her, a gesture I’d rarely seen him extend to anyone.
The entire floor seemed to pause, employees stealing glances at this unusual display of affection from their normally stoic boss.
Caspar caught my eye over Sophia’s shoulder and motioned for me to join them.
“Audrey,” he said as I approached, his hand still resting comfortably on Sophia’s shoulder.
I’d like you to meet Sophia Walker, our European operations director and one of my most trusted colleagues.”
Sophia extended her hand, her grip firm and confident.
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Chapter 149
“The famous Audrey Lane,‘ she said, her accent hinting at a British education.
I’ve heard so much about you. You’re even more beautiful in person than in the photos.”
“Photos?” I asked, caught off guard.
She laughed lightly.
“I’ve heard about the impressive new talent that’s joined the team. I’ve reviewed your resume.”
Caspar cleared his throat.
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“We’re having a welcome dinner for Sophia tonight at Le Bernardin. She just completed a major acquisition in Frankfurt two weeks ahead of
schedule.”
“You really don’t need to go to such trouble,” Sophia said with a graceful smile. “Though I won’t say no to Le Bernardin.”
“It’s the least I can do after your success in Europe,” Caspar replied, then turned to me.
“Audrey, you’ll join us, of course?”
“I’m sorry, I can’t,” I said quickly, perhaps too quickly. “I promised Clara I’d meet her tonight.”
Something flickered across Caspar’s expression–disappointment, maybe–but he nodded.
“Another time, then.”
As I turned to leave, I watched their retreating figures from the corner of my eye.
They walked in perfect step with each other, heads bent close in comfortable conversation.
I couldn’t help but remember the way Caspar had embraced Sophia earlier.
He wouldn’t even hug Ethan, whom he hasn’t seen for a long time, like this.
A strange tightness formed in my chest.
I shook my head, forcing the image from my mind.
Whatever history he and Sophia shared had nothing to do with me.
I grabbed my purse and headed for the elevator, determined to focus on my plans with Clara instead of dwelling on whatever I’d just witnessed,
I had better things to do–like enjoying a rare evening out with my friend
I arrived at the restaurant fifteen minutes early and asked for our reserved table.
The hostess led me to a quiet corner with a view of the Manhattan skyline and I ordered sparkling water while waiting.
Ten minutes after our agreed time, Clara finally appeared, hurrying through the restaurant with a tired expression.
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“Sorry I’m late,” she said, sliding into her sent.
I’ve been dragged to three charity auctions this week.”
Clara sighed dramatically.
“If I didn’t escape tonight, I swear I would have suffocated under all tho
She signaled the waiter.
“I’ll have a martini, extra dry, two olives.”
I laughed, shaking my head at her theatrics. “You’re being melodramatic
Clara opened her mouth to respond, but suddenly froze mid–sentence, h
“Oh. My. God,” she whispered, her voice dropping to an astonished hush.
“What?” I asked, assuming she was exaggerating again for dramatic effec
“Don’t turn around too obviously,” she said, leaning forward and lowerin cozy date with a gorgeous woman in Burberry?”
I slowly turned my head and immediately spotted them.
At a corner table partially obscured by a decorative plant sat Caspar and
“That’s Sophia Walker,” I said, turning back to Clara and trying to keep m
“She works for him. Runs the European division.”
“Sweet double working dinner, huh?” Clara raised an eyebrow skeptically.
“It’s just business,” I insisted, stirring my water with more force than nec
“My, aren’t we magnanimous,” Clara said, signaling the waiter for anothe
“If my husband is dining with a woman who looks like that, I’d be a little
Before the waiter could even walk away, she ordered a third.
“Clara,” I raised my hand to stop her from drinking further. “Is something
“I thought things were going well with Finley,” I said carefully.
Clara swirled the olive in her fresh martini.
“They are. I think. *
She laughed, but the smile was somewhat bitter.
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Chapter 149
“Sorry I’m late,” she said, sliding into her seat.
“Ive been dragged to three charity auctions this week.”
Clara sighed dramatically.
“If I didn’t escape tonight, I swear I would have suffocated under all those fake smiles and judging glances.
She signaled the waiter.
I’ll have a martini, extra dry, two olives.”
I laughed, shaking my head at her theatrics. “You’re being melodramatic again.”
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Clara opened her mouth to respond, but suddenly froze mid–sentence, her eyes widening as she stared at something over my shoulder.
“Oh. My. God,” she whispered, her voice dropping to an astonished hush.
“What?” I asked, assuming she was exaggerating again for dramatic effect.
“Don’t turn around too obviously,” she said, leaning forward and lowering her voice, “but isn’t that your Caspar? On what appears to be a very cozy date with a gorgeous woman in Burberry?”
I slowly turned my head and immediately spotted them.
At a corner table partially obscured by a decorative plant sat Caspar and Sophia.
“That’s Sophia Walker,” I said, turning back to Clara and trying to keep my voice neutral.
“She works for him. Runs the European division.”
“Sweet double working dinner, huh?” Clara raised an eyebrow skeptically.
“It’s just business,” I insisted, stirring my water with more force than necessary.
‘My, aren’t we magnanimous,” Clara said, signaling the waiter for another martini despite having barely finished her first.
“If my husband is dining with a woman who looks like that, I’d be a little less understanding.”
Before the waiter could even walk away, she ordered a third.
‘Clara,‘ I raised my hand to stop her from drinking further. ‘Is something bothering you?”
“I thought things were going well with Finley,” I said carefully.
Clara swirled the olive in her fresh martini.
“They are. I think.”
She laughed, but the smile was somewhat bitter.
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Chapter 149
“Just watching my husband get circled by every ambitious socialite in Manhattan since he rejoined the family business.”
She took another large sip.
“Some blonde from the marketing team, an heiress from a rival family, and so on. Even someone directly climbed into his bed.”
“It’s just business,” I echoed my earlier defense, realizing the irony.
I know it probably is, Clara admitted, her voice softening.
“And I know I shouldn’t be jealous. Our marriage is solid. But…”
She glanced over at Caspar and Sophia again.
“Sometimes you can’t help but wonder, you know? When they spend all those late nights ‘working‘ together, what else happens?”
I had no answer for that.
The same uncomfortable thoughts had begun circling in my own mind.
Within thirty minutes, her words were slurring.
“Clara, I think we should get you home,” I said, reaching for my phone.
“I’m perfectly fine, she insisted, though she could barely keep her eyes focused.
With a sigh, I texted Finley: Your wife is three sheets to the wind at Le Bernardin. Come get her.
While waiting for his response, I glanced over to where Caspar and Sophia had been sitting, but the table was empty.
A flicker of movement near the exit caught my eye.
Sophia was guiding Caspar toward the door, her arm wrapped around his waist.
He was leaning heavily against her, his steps unsteady.
I frowned.
‘Stay here,” I told Clara, who had rested her head on the table. “I’ll be right back.”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
